trifle
/'traifl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- Something of little value or importance: A trifle is a small, insignificant object, matter, or amount of money.
- A small amount: A trifle can also refer to a small quantity or degree of something.
- A dessert: A trifle is a cold British dessert consisting of layers of sponge cake, fruit, jelly, custard, and cream.
Verb:
- To treat without seriousness or respect: To trifle means to act or speak in a frivolous, unserious, or disrespectful way about something important.
- To waste or fritter away: To trifle means to spend or use something valuable, like time or money, in a wasteful or inefficient manner.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- Don't worry about such a trifle; it's not important. (Referring to a minor issue.)
- I'll have just a trifle of milk in my tea, please. (Referring to a small amount.)
- For dessert, she made a delicious sherry trifle. (Referring to the dessert.)
Verb:
- He is not a man to trifle with; he demands respect. (To treat someone/something without due seriousness.)
- She trifled with the idea of quitting her job but never did. (To consider something not very seriously.)
- He trifled away his entire inheritance on foolish ventures. (To waste something.)
Advanced Usage
"A trifle" (as an adverb): Slightly, a little.
- The music was a trifle too loud for my taste. (The music was slightly too loud.)
"To trifle with someone's affections": To treat someone's romantic feelings in a casual, insincere, or hurtful way.
- It's cruel to trifle with someone's affections just for amusement.
Variants and Related Words
- Trifling (adjective): Unimportant, trivial, or of little value.
- We spent hours arguing over a trifling matter.
- Trifler (noun): A person who acts frivolously or does not take things seriously.
Synonyms
- Noun (for something unimportant): Triviality, bagatelle, nothing.
- Verb (to treat frivolously): Toy, dally, flirt (with an idea).
- Verb (to waste): Squander, fritter away, idle away.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Trifle away: To waste something, especially time or money, on unimportant things.
- He trifled away the afternoon browsing the internet instead of working.
Related Idioms
- "Not a trifle": Not a small or insignificant matter.
- Losing the contract was not a trifle; it was a major blow to the company.
- "A mere trifle": Something completely insignificant or a very small amount.
- The cost of repairs was a mere trifle compared to the value of the car.
Noun
- something of small importance
- a detail that is considered insignificant
- a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
Verb
- consider not very seriously
- He is trifling with her
- She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania
- act frivolously
- waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently